On Thursday, news reported a dramatic increase in patients seeking medical attention for exhaustion. The figures are taken from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s own monitoring system, which reveals which diseases Norwegians are affected by. The increase came at the same time as the pandemic hit Norway, and several researchers fear that many more will suffer late effects after the winter’s wave of infections. The same researchers highlight studies that point to the fact that corona can lead to both heart disease and exhaustion. – Ignoring professionals Director of the Department Preben Aavitsland at the Institute of Public Health believes, on the other hand, that it is not sufficiently proven that covid-19 causes serious late consequences. That causes Brita Scheid Bjørnstad, chairman of the Norwegian Covid Association, to react. – They claim that you know too little. How much proof do they need before they change direction? We think it is startling that the senior management of FHI ignores both its own professionals, its own data material and recognized international research, says Bjørnstad. She leads a patient association which, among other things, works to increase knowledge about covid-19 and long-term complications of the disease. Bjørnstad believes that research clearly shows that covid-19 can cause serious late effects in many people. Subject director Preben Aavitsland at the Institute of Public Health. Photo: Per-Kåre Sandbakk / news – Over the past year, FHI has repeatedly conveyed that corona should be equated with a common cold. When specialist director of FHI Preben Aavitsland says that he doesn’t bother to get tested, and that “corona only gives corona”, we perceive it as frivolous and a trivialization of a serious illness, says Bjørnstad. The chairman says she wonders why FHI chooses to deal with late followers in this way. – We believe it is high time that the population heard the truth, which we believe they both tolerate and deserve to hear. If we get enough information about real risk, then the individual can better choose which danger we want to expose ourselves and others to, says Bjørnstad. FHI: – Much we don’t know news has presented the criticism to FHI. Area director Trygve Ottersen has chosen to answer on behalf of senior management. Area director Trygve Ottersen at the Institute of Public Health. Photo: FHI – It is unfortunately the case that there are many scattered studies about late effects and much we do not know, as is often the case in new situations. In addition to imparting knowledge as we assess it, we impart advice on vaccination and infection control measures. We are constantly looking for this advice to correspond to the knowledge we have. When the knowledge changes, we assess whether the advice should be changed, says Ottersen. The area director believes that FHI is closely following the research being carried out on late bloomers. – FHI has many skilled professionals, many types of data, and several ways to follow international research. Top management listens to these and has also set up a dedicated professional group to monitor what is published by peer-reviewed and quality-assured research on the late effects of covid-19, says Ottersen. – Well-documented Assistant director of health Espen Nakstad goes further in acknowledging that covid-19 causes late effects such as exhaustion. Assistant Director of Health Espen Nakstad in the Directorate of Health. Photo: Javad Parsa / Javad Parsa – Post-infection fatigue is probably not unique to covid-19, but because the extent of covid-19 disease has been so great in the past two years, and because the virus appears to affect the immune system of others ways than other comparable viruses do, it obviously has late consequences for quite a few people, says Nakstad. – FHI believes that there is not enough good research to establish that covid-19 causes late effects such as exhaustion and heart disease. What is your view on this? – It is well documented that covid-19 can cause late effects, but we know too little about how many are affected and why. Therefore, we need more research on this worldwide.
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– People can stand to hear the truth – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
